“Allah! There is no god but He – the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him Nor Sleep. His are all things In the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede In His presence except As he permitteth? He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass Aught of his knowledge Except as He willeth. His throne doth extend Over the heavens And on earth, and He feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them, For He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory).”
[Surah al-Baqarah 2: 255]

The month of Ramadhan has been singled out for special worship . It is a month unlike other months. One reason for this, as defined by the Qur’an, is because the Holy Qur’an was revealed in this month. Laylat al-Qadr is to be found in the last five odd nights of the last third of Ramadan. While there is no specific date revealed in the Quran, Laylat al-Qadar is found to be on the last nights of Ramadan. Mostly it is on one of the odd nights: 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night. However there is inclination towards the night before the 27 of Ramadan.Laylatul Qadr is a celebration of the arrival of the final word of God for humans. It is a tribute to the message revealed to mankind by their Creator, that was sent for the purpose of educating the means to achieve happiness in both the worlds.

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.Therein come down the angels and the spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand:Peace!…This until the rise of dawn!—Sura 97:1-5 (Al-Qadr)

Laylatul Qadr is regarded as equal to one thousand months of worship in terms of the reward received.

Muslims are encouraged to stay awake the entire night praying, reading quran, and doing zhikr for blessings and forgiveness. Considering laylatul Qadr are the holiest nights of the year, it is wise to heed the tremendous benefits of the nights.

The word Islam is derived from the Arabic root “SLM” which means, among other things, peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense the word Islam means submission to the Will of God and obedience to His law. The connection between the original and the religious meanings of the word is strong and obvious. Only through the submission to the WIll of God and by obdedience to His law can one achieve true peace and enjoy lasting purity.

Some outsiders call Islam “Mohammedanism” and address the believer of Islam as “Mohammedans”. Muslims both protest and reject the use of these words. If Islam is classified as Mohammedanism, it is implied that the religion takes after a mortal being, namely Muhammad PBUH, similar to perhaps Judaism, Hinduism, etc. Another misconception that may arise is that “Mohammedans, are worshippers of Muhammad as perhaps Christians are of Jesus. However muslims worship God alone. Muhammad PBUH was only a mortal being commissioned by God to teach the word of God and lead an exemplary life. He stands in history as the best model for a man of piety and perfection. He is a living proof of what man can be and of what he can accomplish.

Moreover Muslims do not believe that Muhammad PBUH founded Islam (in a sense of what its core values are), although it was restored by him in the last stage of the religious evolution. The original founder of Islam is no other than God himself, and the date of the founding of Islam goes back to the age of Adam. Islam has existed in one form or another all along form the beginning and will continue to exist till the end of time.

For everyone that believes in God, there is always a thirst to know more about the supreme deity that has created all the planets and galaxies.

In Islam every perfection and absolute goodness belongs to him and no defect or wrong applies to him. In specific terms, one should know and believe the following:

1. “God is only one, has no partner or son, and neither gives birth, nor is He born. He is eternally besought by all and has no beginning or end and none is equal to him.” (112:1-5)

2. “He is the merciful and compassionate, the guardian and the true guide, the just and the supreme lord, the creator and the watchful. The first and the last, the knowing and the wise, the hearing and the aware, the witness and the glorious, the able and the powerful.” (57:1-6; 59:22-24)

3. “He is the loving and the provider, the generous and benevolent, the rich and the independent, the forgiving and the clement, the patient and the appreciative, the unique and the protecter, the judge and the peace. (3:31;11:6; 35:15; 65:2-3)

Each one of these names and attributes of God mentioned in various places of the Holy Quran. We all enjoy the care and mercy of God who is so loving and kind to his creation.

“If we try to count his favours upon us, we can not, because they are countless.” (14:32-34; 16:10-18)

God is high and supreme, but he is very near to the pious thoughtful people. He answers their prayers and helps them, he loves the people who love him and forgives their sins. He gives them peace and happiness, knowledge and success, life and protection. He welcomes all those who want to be at peace with him and never rejects them. He teaches man to be good, to do the right, and to keep away from the wrong. Because he is so good and loving. He recommends and accepts only the good and right things.

“The door of his mercy is always open to any who sincerely seeks his support and protection.” (2:186 ; 50:16)

The love of God for his creations is immense and beyond human imagination. God takes good care of us, not only from the time of our birth onwards but even long before that, he makes us in the best form of creation. And gives us all the sense and faculties that we need for our growth. He helps us when we can not help ourselves. And provides for us and for our dependant. He creates in man, the mind to understand the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane.

Now many cultures in modern society see a very oppressed form of women in Islam and often harbour misconceptions that males and females are not regarded the same in Islam or women are lowly to men and question whether women can enter paradise. The Quran states that men and women who practice the principles of Islam will receive equal reward fir their efforts:

“Surely for men who submit (to God) and for women who submit (to God), for believing men and believing women, for devout men and devout women, for truthful men and truthful women, for steadfast men and steadfast women, for humble men and humble women, for charitable men and charitable women, for men who fast and women who fast, for men who guard their chastity and for women who guard, for men who remember God much and for women who remember- for themGod has prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward.” (33:35)

Again God says

“Whosoever performs good deeds, whether male or female and is a believer, we shall surely make him live a good life, and we will certainly reward them for the best of what they did” (16:97)

Each of the Five pillars of Islam: belief, worship, charitable giving, fasting and pilgrimage are as important for women as for men, and there is no differentiation of their reward. As God says in the Quran:

” The nobelest among you before God is the most heedful of you” (49:13)

One may also mention that many famous mystics in Islam are women who became leaders by example and by strict adherence to the Quran and the Prophets teachings- the Sunnah/Hadith. -Woman in IslamB. Aisha Lemu

The holy book can be divided into four main topics that help grasp the information more easily. 1. TOHEED – Which refers to the UNITY of Allah SWT, and His unique nature as the one and only creator who has no associates or partners. For man’s success on earth, in his grave and in the hereafter, it is essential to believe in he ONENESS of Allah in his nature and being, as he is, with all his attributes and qualities, without any partners. He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. There is none besides Allah who has the knowledge of all things eternally or to be aware of and see everything simultaneously and unceasingly. 2. PROPHETHOOD – This is the next topic about which the Quran clearly states that we must believe in Muhammad PBUH as the final messenger of Allah SWT. It is obligatory and essential to accept whatever the Prophet PBUH has brought. 3. CRITERIA OF RIGHT AND WRONG – This topic concerns the DO’S and DON’TS of this world such as what is permissible to eat and what is not to gain the pleasure of Allah. Similarly which deeds are prohibited and which not, to gain Allah’s pleasure. 4. CONDITIONS AFTER DEATH – This is the fourth topic of the Quran and has been referred to in Surah Al-Zilzaal which discusses life after death, the day of judgement and the conditions of the day of judgement.